MLB Player News
-
Nick Ahmed SS | SD
Giants' Nick Ahmed: On bench for series finale
Ahmed is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
Ahmed went 3-for-7 with a stolen base and a run scored while starting at shortstop for the Giants in both of the team's games since he returned from the injured list Friday. Both of those starts came against left-handed pitchers, making it unclear if he's the team's preferred option at the position or if the lefty-hitting Brett Wisely will operate in the strong side of a platoon. Wisely is in the lineup at shortstop Sunday, but the Angels are deploying a right-handed opener (Ben Joyce) rather than a traditional starter.
-
Brandon Crawford SS | STL
Cardinals' Brandon Crawford: Lifted early with leg injury
Crawford was removed from Sunday's game against the Cubs in the top of the eighth inning with an apparent left hamstring injury, John Denton of MLB.com reports. He went 1-for-1 with a double, two walks and a run scored before departing.
With Masyn Winn getting a day out of the field and serving as the Cardinals' designated hitter, Crawford entered the starting nine at shortstop for just the 12th time all season. He got off to a strong start to the day at the plate before he was pulled midway through his eighth-inning plate appearance, when he appeared to grab at his hamstring following a big swing. Jose Fermin came off the bench to replace Crawford and popped out. The Cardinals should have more information on Crawford's condition after the game.
-
Oneil Cruz SS | PIT
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Returning from two-game absence
Cruz (ankle) will start at shortstop and bat third in Sunday's game against the Rockies, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Cruz will check back into the lineup after a sore left ankle prevented him from playing in either of the first two games of the series. The fact that the Pirates are using him at shortstop Sunday rather than deploying him at designated hitter would seem to speak to confidence in Cruz's health heading into the team's upcoming six-game week.
-
Trea Turner SS | PHI
Phillies' Trea Turner: Monday return confirmed
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Turner (hamstring) will be reinstated from the 10-day injured list Monday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Turner has been on the shelf since May 4 with a left hamstring strain, but he'll rejoin the big club without requiring a minor-league rehab assignment beforehand after the Phillies came away from his recent workouts convinced enough that he's at or near full health. Once he's formally activated from the IL ahead of Monday's game against the Padres, Turner should settle back in as the Phillies' everyday shortstop, pushing Edmundo Sosa back into a utility role. Sosa performed well during Turner's extended absence, and Thomson recently floated the possibility of Sosa seeing some looks in the outfield once Turner is back in the fold.
-
Elly De La Cruz SS | CIN
Reds' Elly De La Cruz: Steals, scores in loss
De La Cruz went 0-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 3-1 loss to Milwaukee.
De La Cruz made his impact in the ninth inning when he walked, stole second base and came home on Jeimer Candelario's double. The theft was De La Cruz's league-leading 35th of the season. His stolen-base attempts have dropped during the month of June. He's attempted four steals in 13 games this month compared to 19 attempts in March/April and 16 in May.
-
Nick Ahmed SS | SD
Giants' Nick Ahmed: Logs steal in loss
Ahmed went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Angels.
Ahmed has gone 3-for-7 over two games since he returned from a five-week absence due to a wrist injury. It looks like he'll reclaim a starting job at shortstop, though the Angels have faced a pair of southpaws since Ahmed's return. The righty-hitting infielder was starting prior to his injury, but lefty-hitting Brett Wisely has batted .311 and saw a large share of playing time while Ahmed was out. Ahmed is slashing .248/.282/.299 with no home runs, one steal, 11 RBI and 10 runs scored over 126 plate appearances this season and is primarily valued for his defense rather than his bat.
-
Edmundo Sosa SS | PHI
Phillies' Edmundo Sosa: Homers in loss
Sosa went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 6-2 loss to the Orioles on Saturday.
Sosa gave the Phillies an early 2-0 lead when he homered off Grayson Rodriguez in the second inning. Sosa hit .306 in May with three home runs, but he has gone just 8-for-37 with one long ball in June. According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Trea Turner's return from a hamstring injury is nearing, which means Sosa will likely return to a bench role in the coming days.
-
Miguel Rojas SS | LAD
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Homers in comeback win
Rojas went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's 4-3 win over the Royals.
Rojas sparked a Dodgers comeback with his fifth-inning homer off Cole Ragans. The long ball was Rojas' first since April 3. The infielder has three multi-hit efforts over his last eight games, but he's also gone hitless three times in that span. For the season, he's at a .280/.330/.449 slash line with three homers, 14 RBI, 13 runs scored and three stolen bases over 115 plate appearances. Rojas appears to be out of the mix for time at third base following the Dodgers' trade for Cavan Biggio. It's likely Rojas will settle into a short-side platoon role at second base going forward, sharing the position with Gavin Lux.